Billy Joe Mantooth

Billy Joe Mantooth (1951 – July 23, 1986) was an American professional football linebacker from Clendenin, West Virginia. Nicknamed "the Man-Eater", he played junior college football at Ferrum College and received NJCAA All-American honors in 1970. He transferred to West Virginia University, where he lettered in 1971 and 1972. Mantooth spent the 1973 preseason with the Philadelphia Eagles and was subsequently associated with the Houston Oilers during the 1974 and 1975 seasons.

In November 1970, Marshall assistant coaches Red Dawson and Gail Parker traveled by car from the team's game at East Carolina to recruit Mantooth at Ferrum. The recruiting trip kept them off Southern Airways Flight 932, which crashed during the return trip to West Virginia, killing all 75 people aboard.

A 1981 altercation in Lexington, Kentucky, led to Fowler v. Mantooth, in which the Kentucky Supreme Court reinstated a $20,000 punitive-damages award against Mantooth in 1984. Mantooth died in a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 79 near Sutton, West Virginia, on July 23, 1986.

Playing career

High school

Mantooth (highlighted), wearing No. 31 with Herbert Hoover's starting defensive unit in the school's 1969 yearbook

Mantooth attended Herbert Hoover High School and was a member of its 1969 graduating class. On the football team, he wore No. 31 and was pictured in the school's yearbook with the starting defensive unit.

College

Mantooth began his college career as a linebacker at Ferrum Junior College. He lettered at linebacker in 1971 and 1972 and was listed as the starting middle linebacker for the 1972 season opener against Villanova.

In West Virginia's 1972 game against Penn State, Bob Nagle was awarded a touchdown on a play that a 2009 WVU Athletics retrospective described as a fumble recovered by Mantooth and Dennis Harris at the 3-yard line.

Professional career

Mantooth joined the Philadelphia Eagles as a free agent in 1973 after head coach Mike McCormack noticed him at an NFL free-agent camp in April. The Eagles released him in July, before the regular season began.

The Philadelphia Bell selected Mantooth in the 37th round of the World Football League's 1974 pro draft. He subsequently joined the Houston Oilers. The Oilers released him in November 1974 after he sustained a leg injury; West Virginia University records also list him with Houston in 1975.

Death

Mantooth died on July 23, 1986, his 35th birthday, in a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 79 near Sutton, West Virginia. He was living in Bridgeport, West Virginia, and was employed by Metec Inc. of Lexington, Kentucky, at the time of his death.

Family

Mantooth was married to Pamela, with whom he had a daughter, Michelle.